Where there is light, there is shadow also
Pay is the mother of Pension
Any discussion is , only to find some consensus amongst the stake holders, without stamping each other. This is applicable in our bsnl absorbed pension revision understanding also. I am a person ready to learn, if corrected fairly.
When we got wage revision from 1-1-2000 as absorbed employees in bsnl ( fitting ourselves in IDA track) , those retired on or before 30-9-2000 were not given any pension revision on account of this, they continued in their 5 th CPC CDA scales only. No DOT retirees on that date demanded any pension revision also. This was because on that date there were no such ‘pre person’ comparing our revision on Oct 2000. They CG pensioners got their pension revision subsequently as per the reports of 6 th CPC and 7 th CPC from 1-1-2006 and from 1-1-2016 respectively.
As per 2nd PRC , we as employees of BSNL got our wage revision w.e.f 1-1-2007 and subsequently a section of our flock who retired during this time upto 31-12-2006 also got their pension revised. In the case of 78.2 issue also the same method was followed. All these things happened after some struggles and discussions only.
We are now in the period of 3 rd PRC. Unfortunately the pay revision could not done due to the affordability clause conditions of DPE. The committee of secretaries including the sect of DOT only finalised the recommendations and DOT secy did not ask any exemption as sought by the Coal secretary of that date. Coal administration justified that by quoting their common recruitment of their officers, even they posted in loss making coal industries, they should be given wage revision. They got their exemption in 2017 also , as they got in 2007 . In bsnl case in 2007, no need of any such exemption, as we were eligible for 2nd PRC DPE conditions.
In our case during 3 rd PRC, DPE advised us to take up the issue with the concerned DOT and indicated the decisions of Committee of secretaries, when the issue of affordability
brought to the authorities of DPE.
Unions fought together and they were given two different offers. One was thro the wage committee by BSNL , another thro negotiation with the then Minister as well DOT secretary level. DOT’s suggestion was to get your IDA merged with nil fitment, subsequently we can think of fitment benefit at least 5 %.
Thro wage negotiations, 2 offers were given by BSNL . The earlier one was, come and sign in the wage committee with 15 % scales but all subject to all conditions. That was not accepted by the unions, as they did not entangle themselves in ‘conditions apply clauses’. Then that offer was put in cold storage.
The second offer was that they are ready for revision , IDA merger with nil fitment and scales accordingly. Management said that this offer is to avoid stagnation. Unions did not agree that stagnation still would be , they demanded at least 5 percent fitment and the earlier scales of 15% , and so the issue is still not finding its shape of any agreement. Even if any agreement then that should go to the approval of DOT and, if any deviation from the ‘DPE om ‘ is found then approval from the appropriate Govt agency may also be needed. The other need is that Dot should initiate for the Executives pay revision also.
Going to 3 rd PRC scales and facing even some stagnation from 1-1-2017 is better comparing ‘Standing on the second pay scales from 1-1-2007 and continuing the same with stagnation’. Of course , it is the wisdom of unions to decide.
Meanwhile the associations of pensioners were all ( even are ) in one voice demanded pension revision for pre 2017 pensioners from our absorbed flock, delinking wage revision. Some associations are for the implementation of 7 th CPC recommendations from 1-1-2017, as some of the recommendations of 6 th CPC and 7 th CPC were extended to bsnl absorbed also from 1-1-2006 or from 1-1-2016 respectively. This was done in two ways, in the case of bsnl employees thro applicability, in the case of bsnl absorbed pensioners thro incorporation. The incorporation was done from 1-1-2007 in the case of minimum pension and age related enhanced pension . But incorporation is done after pay revision only in 2007.
Some of the associations are consistently demanding that pension revision should also be extended to the pre 2017 retirees as per 7 th CPC.
Some other associations started pursuing on 3 rd PRC line in the absence of pay revision. DOT on its understanding , taking the demand of pension revision in the absence of pay revision did their home work and convened a meeting with all the associations on Oct 17th of 2022, and proposed pension revision in the absence of pay revision, on the same lines of DOT’s earlier proposal to unions- that is IDA merger with nil fitment.
DOT presented its proposal for both Pre 2017 pension revision from 1-1-2017 and post 2017 notional pay fixation on the same yardstick from 1-1-2017 on 3rd PRC scales. The other question raised was when Executives have their pay scales, what would be for NE of post 2017. DoT agreed to address the question . If need be amendment to fix pension in the last pay drawn can also be addressed with the pension department , as post 2017 were proposed for notional pay fixation from 1-1-2017.
Meanwhile the PBCAT judgment of Sep 2023 directed to settle the issue of pension revision analogous to CPC as per applicability, and as per the existing rules ( of 37 A) . DOT is refusing to implement the same as it felt after consulting the other ministries especially DOE . DOE suggested to fight the case at higher level courts , as the direction is against the rules of the land as on date and pension is derivative of pay. DOT has gone to Delhi HC to quash the same and subsequent contempt issue also.
The pre 2017 pensioners issue is bound with the post 2017 pay revision issue . As they are all one flock, there cannot be any two methods - one revision as per 7 th CPC for pre 2017 and fixation of pension to post 2017 in the existing 2 nd PRC itself. If extending 7 th CPC to post 2017 what will be their pay scales to avoid anomaly, that is the major issue we need to solve. Pension is impregnated by Pay only ( of pay scales).
When extension of other 7 th CPC benefits to post 2016 ( gratuity enhancement) is there, can the 7 th CPC scales for post 2017 from 1-1-2017 possible, is the question we need to answer. This even if possible , in the absence of pay revision in the bsnl, then that can be notional on 7 th CPC comparative scales ( as CGHS mapping method) from 1-1-2016.
In that case , a section of employees of bsnl recruited all along travelled in uniform pay scales with their absorbed brothers, have no other go to travel in second PRC and retire in second PRC scales till a pay revision for them in 3 rd PRC from 1-1-2017.
How to address these consequences when our brothers of post 2017 are struggling for their pay revision, when we their elders once led them as leaders did not wait to see and share their concern till it materialises , leaving them with the notion as the rules are not helping them to get pay revision. We are taking a position Why should we elders suffer, and why should we tie ourselves with our young brothers , who all came to BSNL along with us seeing us all coming with our options. I feel it as our moral responsibility also.
We should repose our faith on our youngsters also who are all struggling to get their pay revision from 1–1-2017, as we are having faith on pensioners associations.
The question of settling pay revision would unite us all and solve all our issues connected.
-Pay revision to the absorbed post 2017 employees
-Pay revision to all the BSNL direct recruited employees after 1-10-2000
-Pension revision to all the pre 2017 pensioners
Even the notional fixation offer is not the best, though one can welcome it as better when comparing nothing. There also variations occur in the post 2017 employees between absorbed and direct recruited.
Whereas the demand of pension revision as per 7 th CPC from 1-1-2017 ( or as of gratuity from 1-1-2016) would bring more anomalies amongst these three sections. A disconnect would emerge. We cannot demand pension revision for post 2017 as they are eligible only for pay revision from 1-1-2017.
Pension revision as per 7 th CPC for pre 2017 pensioners ( possible if at all then only from 1-1-2016 and so pre 2016 pensioners)
Even if notional pay revision for pre 2016 as per corresponding CPC scales as that CGHS mapping
They’re still a section different from our 37 A flock to go on 2007 scales till they get pay revision from 1-1-2017.
Confusion will be galore, I feel so. The above views of mine are as per today’s context that is - pre 2017 and post 2017 context. When there is no such duality - no such ‘post persons ‘ in our flock, all are ‘pre persons’ only then that context would be different, which one is yet to come.
I am not a person who refused to learn, if I am taught fairly instead of stamping . I am in the learning mode only, knowing my limitation of telling and doing things.
22 hrs 7 - 9- 2024 R. Pattabiraman
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